The Maidens

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Igneous Intrusion

Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

The Maidens European shag, common seal, grey seal Intertidal rock The Maidens consist oftwo small islands the West and East Maidens and a series of rock platforms which dry out at low water. They are formed of an igneous rock known as dolerite which appears to take the form of a series ofmassive intrusions in to older rocks. The latter has been eroded away leaving the dolerite exposed both above and below the sea. The Maidens are of importance for their breeding European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis colony, seal population both common seal Phoca vitulina and grey seal Halichoerus grypus and a range of intertidal rock communities. The Maidens are a series of off-shore islands off the eastern coast of Co. Antrim. At the time of the Seabird 2000 survey, The Maidens had 97 occupied nests of European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis which represents 2.6% of the all-Ireland population and 32.2% of the Northern Ireland population for this species. The site also supports small populations of lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus, herring gull Larus argentatus and great black-backed gull Larus marinus. Black guillemot Cepphus grylle also breed within the designated area. Both common seal Phoca vitulina and grey seal Halichoerus grypus are present. Recent counts indicate a population of some 20 common seal and 60 grey seal. Pups of both species have been recorded. The Maidens provides a range of habitat types for seals. West Maiden provides permanently dry rock which is ideal for pupping while the islets and reefs, exposed at low water, offers opportunities for feeding or moulting. Due to the remoteness and lack of accessibility these islands provide a safe sanctuary for the seal community and represent the only truly remote and undisturbed location within Northern Ireland's suite of ASSI's for these species. The Maidens is also notable for its intertidal rock communities. The intertidal area is generally rather narrow, and is dominated by bedrock with wave-cut platforms. Most of the site is very exposed with reduced species diversity which is characteristic of a site of this exposed nature. However, there are localised pockets of shelter with moderate fucoid cover spiral wrack Fucus spiralis and the toothed wrack Fucus serratus. The Maidens is notable for the following biotopes, which are typical of an exposed rocky shore: yellow and grey lichens, Verrucaria maura, Chthamalus spp, Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata. The area is characterised by an upper splash zone dominated by the lichen Verrucaria maura. Many of the exposed mid-shore rocks are dominated by the common limpet Patella vulgata and there is a zone in the lower eulittoral zone dominated by the red algae Mastocarpus stellatus. Common invertebrates include the periwinkles Littorina saxatilis and Littorina mariae, the dog whelk Nucella lapillus and the beadlet anemone Actinia equina. The brown algae oarweed Laminaria digitata and dabberlocks Alaria esculenta typify lower shores. Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the site it is not affected by the usual anthropogenic factors such as, winkle pickers, bait diggers, dog walkers and horse riders. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/maidens-assi

Species mentioned